OJJDP 2023 Supporting Effective Interventions for Youth with Problematic or Illegal Sexual Behavior

Project SAFeR (Safety & Family Resiliency) helps Tarrant County children ages 3-17 with problematic sexual behaviors (PSB). There are three components to the program: legal, supervision, & counseling. It began in 2015 through the collaborative efforts of Lena Pope, Alliance for Children, the Tarrant County DA’s Office, Child Protective Services (CPS), Tarrant County Juvenile Services (TCJS), and local law enforcement. It was funded, in part, by OJJDP.

Youth under the age of 10 cannot be prosecuted in Texas. Families of children 3-9 self-refer to Lena Pope, and do not participate in the diversion/supervision components.

For children 10-12 with pending legal charges, a multidisciplinary team must decide that the case is appropriate for inclusion in the program. The victim’s family must agree to the charged juvenile being in the program. A risk assessment is completed by the counselors involved in the program and the juvenile must be exhibiting low to moderate levels of PSB. Lastly, the juvenile must admit to the PSB.

For children 10-17 without pending legal charges, referrals may come through many sources (self, CPS, schools, hospitals, etc.) They do not participate in the diversion/supervision components.

Project SAFeR uses Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT) for youth with PSB, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for victims.

Goal: SAFeR will provide services to a total of 350 individuals over the grant period (150 youth with PSB, 150 caregivers, and 50 victims).

Performance Measures: 1) Provide Problematic Sexual Behavior Therapy to 150 youth (100% of those enrolled in the program) over the grant period as measured by program records; 2) Provide Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to 100% of youths’ caregivers (estimated 150 caregivers) over the grant period as measured by program records; 3) 90% of youth will follow all sexual behavior rules for three months after treatment as determined by program records;  4) 90% of youth will complete the program successfully over the grant period as measured by program records; 5) Provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to 50 youth victims over the grant period as determined by program records; 6) Provide Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with information on preventing abuse to 150 caregivers over the grant period as determined by program records; 7) Develop safety plans for 100% of youth participants in Project SAFeR as determined by program records.